The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-24
A SKETCH OF HONOLULU.

Unpaved Streets and Some Modern Inn.
mountaineering KaIakaua.
Honolulu has well sheltered harbor,
with depth of about twenty-five feet Of
water over the coral reef at its entrance.
The city stands upon a low plain, crescent
shaped, with its Op hing toward the sea,
about three miles long and one mile wide.
On the landward side this plain is in
closed by mountains of considerable ele-
walton, several of which are extinct vol
canoes. Noticeable among these are
Diamond Head and The Punchbowl,
prominent headlands as you approach
the city by water. Honolulu has a
population of $4,000, of which 10000
are natives and 10000 Chinese, ia
panese and South Sea Islanders, and
5000 Americans and Europeans, the
latter English, Germans and Portuguese
mainly. The city is irregularly laid out.
It's streets are unpaved, and there are few
sidewalks; hence it is very dusty in dry
and very muddy in rainy weather. 1t is
abundantly supplied with good water,
but is wholly unprovided with any sys-
tenn of drainage or sewerage. The tele-
phone has been introduced, and is In very
general use.
The residences are widely scattered, are
mostly frame of one story, with broad
verandas about them, and surrounded by
ample grounds lastly ornamented and
EMPOWERED within a rich profusiOn of
tropical trees, shrubbery and flowing
plants Aside from the royal palace, there
are no public buildings having any claims
to special notice. There is a small mu-
scum containing poor collection of an
Gent weapons and other native articles, a
cy,o oil M 10lio ibTarv tho Men q
Christian association has a lecture hall
and reading room. There are daily and
weekly newspapers published in both the
English and Hawaiian languages.
The descendants of the early mission
aries now resident here, together with the
better class of Americans who have since
arrived, constitute highly cultivated, re-
fined and agreeable society, ready to give
cordial reception and generous hospitality
to all visitors manifestly worthy Of their
attention. There is another class, quite
as numerous, who neglect no opportunity
to eneer at and denOunce the missionaries,
and who constitute the patrons OF saloons,
gaming places and low dives, of which
Honolulu is by no means destitute. Hilo
on Hawaii is the second town in size and
importance. 1t is beautifully situated
upon Byron bay, and contains a pOpula-
lation Of between 5000 and 1000. The
other towns are inconsiderable villages.
King Kalakaua is so years of age, is
dissolute and hard drinker. and is fast
treading the footsteps of his predecessor,
Lunalilo, who died from the effects of
dissipation at the age of SO. He had no
children. The heir apparent is his sis
ter, well advanced in life, after whom
there is a girl II years of age, upon
whose death the royal family becomes
extinct. What is to be the future of
these islands Nine tenths of all the
most intelligent citizens are republican at
heart, and would rejoice to see the Ha-
waiian Islands annexed to the United
States. From their position off our west
ern coast and ON the great highway of
commerce between our Pacific States and
Australia, China and Japan-as an inn
portant coaling and naval station for our
vessels in the Pacific, it is of the first inn
portance that they shall not be permitted
to pass under the control of any Euro
pean government. Both England and
France are keenly watchful, are DESTROYS
and, no doubt, hopeful, of their acquisi-
ton whenever a change Occurs.-HOno-
lulu Cor. Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.